Owner and Therapist

You’re used to being the person others count on.

Maybe you’re the one who stays calm when everything around you is anything but calm. You solve problems, take care of people, and keep moving when things get difficult. That ability can serve you well—but it can also make it surprisingly hard to recognize when you’re the one who could use some support.

Before becoming a therapist, I spent 25 years as a first responder. I know the culture, the humor, the long shifts, and the expectation that sometimes you simply put your head down and get the job done. I also learned personally that what we experience along the way can take a toll.

In fact, my own experiences and struggles as a first responder are part of what led me to become a therapist. I came to understand how important it is to have a place where you can be honest about what you’re carrying without feeling judged, misunderstood, or like you need to protect the person listening. That experience gave me a new direction and a sense of purpose: helping others who may be struggling with some of the same pressures that I once found difficult to navigate myself.

That doesn’t mean I’ll assume I know exactly what you’re going through. Your experiences are your own. But when you tell me about the realities of working in a high-stress profession, you won’t have to spend half the session explaining the culture before we can talk about how it has affected you.

As a therapist, I’m warm, approachable, and direct without being blunt. People who know me have described me as a “big teddy bear,” which is probably a pretty good indication of what you can expect from me. Therapy in my office isn’t about sitting across from someone who silently nods at you for an hour. We’ll talk. I’ll ask questions. I’ll challenge you when it might be helpful, and we’ll work together to figure out what you need. And when appropriate, there will probably be some humor along the way.

I specialize in working with first responders and others who spend much of their lives caring for, protecting, or helping other people. You may be dealing with trauma, anxiety, burnout, accumulated stress, relationship difficulties, or simply the feeling that you’re not quite yourself anymore.

But you don’t have to be a first responder or work in a high-stress profession to come through my door. My practice is open to adults from all walks of life. You might be going through a difficult season, struggling with relationships, feeling overwhelmed, or simply realizing that something in your life needs to change. Whatever brings you here, you’re welcome.

For 25 years, my job was helping people on some of the hardest days of their lives. Becoming a therapist has allowed me to continue helping people—just in a different way.

If you’re used to being the person who takes care of everyone else, this can be a place where you don’t have to.